With demand for mental health services set to rise after the firebreak, Mind Cymru encourages everyone to prioritise their mental wellbeing
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As lockdown restrictions are lifted in Wales, the demand for mental health support is expected to increase, explains Glenn Page, Mind Cymru’s senior policy and campaigns officer.
To combat the country’s “mental health emergency” Mind Cymru has launched a collection of services to help local communities.
Clear consensus
Recent research by the charity found one in three adults and one in four young people did not access support during lockdown because they didn’t think their issue was serious enough to deserve support, Glenn revealed.
Lockdown has had a significant impact on all of us
With the effects of the pandemic felt across society, a survey conducted by Superdrug earlier this year also discovered 65% of people were concerned about their mental health.
The consensus is clear that lockdown has had a significant impact on all of us, Glenn noted.
“It’s fair to say we’re in a mental health emergency,” he said.
“As we face a second wave of Covid-19, we must learn the lessons of the early period of the outbreak to ensure services are available, people know how to access them, and they are encouraged to do so.”
Rapid response
Along with the NHS and many other supportive services across the sector, Mind Cymru has proactively pulled together to address the pandemic.
Speaking of the charity’s resources, Glenn highlighted the coronavirus information hub covering research and wellbeing tips which are accessible to the public in both English and Welsh.
There’s never been a more critical time to prioritise mental health
In partnership with 20 local Minds, Mind Cymru is working across Wales to provide support for individual communities. Funded by the Welsh Government and others, the charity has been running an active monitoring service which enables people to self-refer for a six-week course.
This was delivered in rapid time in response to Covid-19 and it has had a huge uptake, Glenn added.
He says, “There’s never been a more critical time to prioritise mental health.”